In a shocking administrative failure that's raising serious questions about Britain's justice system, a convicted sex offender was mistakenly released from prison and handed £500 of taxpayer money before being deported.
Hadush Kebatu, who was serving a sentence for serious sexual assault, walked free from HMP Wandsworth due to what officials are calling a "catastrophic processing error." The 34-year-old Ethiopian national not only gained unexpected liberty but was provided with state funds intended for legitimate deportees.
System Failure Exposed
The extraordinary sequence of events unfolded when prison staff incorrectly processed Kebatu's paperwork, treating him as a routine deportation case rather than an inmate with time still to serve. According to sources within the prison service, multiple checkpoints failed to identify the error.
"This wasn't just a minor oversight—it was a complete breakdown of established procedures," a senior prison service insider revealed. "The system designed to prevent exactly this type of incident failed at every level."
Taxpayer Money Handed to Offender
Most controversially, Kebatu was given approximately £500 from public funds under the Home Office's Facilitated Returns Scheme, which provides financial assistance to foreign nationals leaving the UK voluntarily. The scheme is intended to reduce removal costs, but in this case, it rewarded someone who should never have been released.
The funds are typically meant to help individuals establish themselves in their home country, covering immediate expenses upon arrival. In Kebatu's case, the money was provided despite his criminal conviction and improper release.
Urgent Investigations Launched
The Ministry of Justice has launched an urgent investigation into how such a significant failure could occur. A spokesperson acknowledged the "serious error" and confirmed that procedures are being reviewed to prevent recurrence.
Shadow Justice Secretary expressed outrage, stating: "This incident exposes dangerous flaws in our justice system. The public deserves to know how a convicted sex offender could be mistakenly released and actually given taxpayer money. We need immediate answers and assurances this cannot happen again."
Broader Implications
This incident comes amid ongoing concerns about prison overcrowding and administrative pressures within the UK's justice system. Prison reform advocates point to the case as evidence of systemic issues requiring urgent attention.
"When basic procedures collapse to this extent, it indicates deeper problems within the system," noted a criminal justice expert. "This isn't just about one individual case—it's about whether the system as a whole is functioning properly."
The Home Office has confirmed that Kebatu remains out of the country and that officials are reviewing all similar cases to ensure no repeat of this embarrassing and concerning failure.
